Hiya and welcome again to F1 Speaking Factors and with only one race left remaining within the 2025 season Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are all mathematically nonetheless an opportunity to change into world champion after McLaren’s crucial technique error denied Piastri a near-certain victory.
Additional down the grid Williams and Carlos Sainz claimed one other outstanding podium while his outdated crew Ferrari struggled while Crimson Bull lastly made a name on its driver line-up.
McLaren retains the combat alive
There was a lot hypothesis about McLaren’s determination to not pit both Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri on lap 7 after contact between Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg created a security automobile alternative.
To not break up the technique has been closely ridiculed within the media and rightfully so.
The crew ought to have known as out to their lead driver, Piastri, who had been quickest in each session and had received the dash, to ask whether or not he wished to pit.
Norris ought to’ve then been positioned on the choice technique defending from Verstappen. Even when each had pitted wherein Norris would’ve misplaced a while within the double-stacked pit cease it might’ve labored higher for the constructors’ championships than the eventual end result.
Lando Norris. (Picture by Music Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Pictures)
Piastri was speechless on the crew radio as he got here dwelling second behind Verstappen with Norris lacking the rostrum in fourth however might’ve been fifth if not for a late mistake from Kimi Antonelli. The choice has allowed Verstappen to shut inside 12 factors with only one race to go.
Piastri being 16 factors behind has successfully ended his marketing campaign until his two title rivals collide however it nonetheless places strain on Norris to at the very least podium in Abu Dhabi to ensure the title.
However this title may very well be all however over and McLaren had the possibility to lastly vanquish Verstappen. It wasn’t to be and the world will watch with curiosity if the Dutchman can snatch the best title comebacks of all time.
Clean operations at Williams
Regardless of this season at Williams proving that solely considered one of James Vowles’ drivers can succeed at one time it was yet one more profitable weekend for one of the best midfield crew in System 1.
The revolution at Williams has continued and my daring prediction coming into this season was that Williams would rating a number of podiums in 2025. Carlos Sainz’s second half of the season has proved why Ferrari ought to by no means have let him go as he closes simply 9 factors behind his teammate Alex Albon within the standings.
The actual query for Williams is whether or not they could make the leap beneath new rules in the direction of the entrance of the grid and common podiums. For now, the crew from Grove must be ecstatic with their progress and rejoice what has been a implausible season ending fifth within the constructors’ championship.
Fourth for Ferrari
Ferrari has been lowered to a close to certainty to complete fourth within the constructors’ championship. Now 44 factors behind Crimson Bull, it was one other poor weekend for Ferrari. seventeenth within the dash and twelfth within the race for Lewis Hamilton after back-to-back Q1 exits.
His teammate Charles Leclerc had a barely higher weekend thirteenth and pointless within the dash however eighth within the race means Ferrari left Qatar with simply 4 factors. It has been a winless season for Ferrari in grand prix’s for the primary time since 2020 and a really demotivated Hamilton makes for regarding studying in the event you’re a fan of the Scuderria heading into 2026.
Crimson Bull reveals drivers
Publish Qatar weekend Crimson Bull has introduced it has demoted Yuki Tsunoda to check and reserve driver and promoted Isack Hadjar to Crimson Bull Racing for 2026. Within the VCARB Arvid Lindblad will debut partnering Liam Lawson at Albert Park in March. The choice comes as no shock however I can’t assist however really feel for Yuki.
He dealt with the Crimson Bull higher than Liam’s early-season performances and regardless of the Kiwis’ higher end-of-season type I nonetheless imagine Tsunoda is a greater benchmark for a junior like Lindblad. Honda strikes to Aston Martin as an engine provider departing Crimson Bull so a possible alternative for Yuki exists sooner or later though as many drivers who’ve failed within the senior crew previously can attest it is vitally troublesome to extend your inventory amongst different groups.
For Hadjar, he deserves the chance little question however should hope that with a brand new engine and rules comes a extra drivable automobile subsequent to Verstappen in any other case he could change into the following in line of a really lengthy checklist of failed prospects.
Lastly, Lawson is caught in holding – appearing within the outdated Pierre Gasly position of being the benchmark for the brand new man.
Time will inform if one other crew takes a liking to him.
